Dunfermline beat Arbroath in first leg of Premiership play-off quarter-final

Dunfermline will take a slender advantage into the second leg of their Premiership play-off quarter-final after a 1-0 victory over Arbroath at East End Park.

Chris Kane netted the only goal of the game after seven minutes, powering low into the bottom corner.

Both sides had chances in the second half, but neither were able to find a breakthrough — setting up an intriguing second leg at Gayfield on Friday.

East End Park boss Neil Lennon changed his full starting XI from their 0-0 draw with Arbroath on Friday.

Having secured their play-off spot early, as well as a place in the Scottish Cup final, Lennon took the opportunity to hand game time to a number of his fringe players in recent weeks.

That freshness was evident as the Pars broke the deadlock with their first attack of the evening. Andrew Tod did brilliantly to split the visitors’ defence with a cute low pass — and Kane did the rest — slamming home from just outside the box after seven minutes.

Callumn Morrison worked Aidan McAdams with an angled strike before Kieran Ngwenya went close after connecting with Matty Todd’s corner to the back post.

Arbroath had offered little going forward, but Ryan Dow’s delivery almost presented an opportunity to Jacob MacIntyre, who just could not quite adjust his feet.

After playing a big role in the opener, Tod almost added his name to the scoresheet when he nutmegged Jack Wilkie then unleashed a rasping strike that had McAdams flying across his goal to parry away.

The visitors ended the first half strongly. A surging run from Dow ended with a dangerous cross that narrowly evaded Findlay Marshall.

A minute after the restart, Marshall spurned a huge chance after he steered wide from Gavin Reilly’s low cut-back.

At the other end there was a scare for McAdams as he was almost caught out by Morrison’s overhit cross.

Alfons Amade lashed wildly over the top as Dunfermline continued to threaten, while Arbroath’s Ryan Flynn picked up the first booking of the evening for a cynical foul on Kane.

In the 66th minute, a rapid counter led by Marshall was brought to a halt after the midfielder was brought down on the edge of the box by Amade.

The Aberdeen loanee took the resulting free-kick — but his effort struck the wall.

Scott Stewart was fortunate not to gift Kane his second goal of the night when he made a mess of a defensive clearance — almost sending the ball into the path of the forward, who was at full stretch in his efforts to knock home.

With six minutes remaining, hesitancy in the Pars backline almost proved costly, though Reilly took too long with his shot, allowing Josh Tod to make the block.

The game was now swinging from end-to-end, and it took a wonderful stop from McAdams to turn Tod’s shot around the post when it looked destined for the top corner.

Marshall then had another brilliant chance to level after he outmuscled the home defence — but Aston Oxborough came up with a vital save.